Ugandan Parliament Votes To Reopen Debate On Anti-Homosexuality Bill, Police Search For Suspects After Two Men Set On Fire Inside Gay Bar, John Amaechi Says Homophobia Continues To Run Rampant In Sports Especially In Soccer, Peter Tatchell Says Christian Housing Manager Demotion For Anti-Same Sex Marriage Comments “Excessive,” Amy Winehouse Died From Alcohol Poisoning

Uganda’s parliament voted to reopen a debate on a bill that seeks to outlaw homosexuality that may be expanded to include the death penalty for gay people. Bloomberg News is reporting that the legislation will be sent to the relevant session committee for consideration, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga told lawmakers today in a televised debate from the capital, Kampala. In October 2009, Ugandan lawmaker David Bahati proposed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill that sought the death penalty or life imprisonment for gay people in the East African nation. The proposal drew criticism from international and domestic civil- society groups for infringing on human rights and equating homosexuality with terrorism or treason. Legislators on Uganda’s Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee in the previous parliament suggested adding a clause that would make it a criminal offense to perform same-sex marriages, Human Rights Watch said in a statement on May 12. The committee said in its report that the penalty of “aggravated homosexuality” should be the same as defilement, a crime that is punishable by death under the Penal Code Act.

Police in Leicester, England have release CCTV images after a man suffered horrific burns to his face when he was set on fire in a pub garden. The incident took place at about 12:40 Tuesday at the Rainbow and Dove pub, a popular gay bar, This Is Leicester reports. The assault victim was taken to hospital and placed on a ventilator and heavily sedated. A second man suffered less serious burns to his hand and forearm. Initial reports suggest that a fire ignited in the beer garden at the pub resulting in two men receiving burn injuries. Both men, aged 21 and 20, were transferred to the Nottingham City Hospital last night where they remain in a stable condition. A 24-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident but he has now been eliminated from inquiries but remains in custody for unrelated offences. Police have released the images of a man they wish to identify and trace in connection with the assault. Detective Inspector Simon Preston said, “We would urge the public to take a good look at the images and contact us if they recognise the man or have any suspicions about his identity. At this stage there is no evidence to suggest that this incident was motivated by homophobia or that the victims were specifically targeted but we are looking into the circumstances surrounding the incident and the events leading up to it. We would like to reiterate that incidents of this nature are extremely rare and we would like to reassure people that we will leave no stone unturned in finding the person responsible. If you were in the Charles Street area during the early hours of yesterday morning and you witnessed the incident or the events leading up to it we would urge you to contact the police, if you haven’t done so already. It’s vitally important that we speak to everyone who was in the area as the smallest of detail could help us identify the man responsible. Any calls received will be treated in confidence.”

The first openly gay former NBA player says prejudice against homosexuals is rife in British sport, especially soccer. According to The Associated Press, retired British player John Amaechi on Wednesday described anti-gay sentiment in sporting bodies and on the field as a “massive problem” that was often ignored or “relegated.” The former player for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Utah Jazz says “in sport there are institutions that haven’t changed in 100 years and need to.” Singling out soccer, Amaechi says “if you compare their emphasis on racism to what they’ve done on homophobia it’s an embarrassment.” Amaechi spoke after receiving the Order of the British Empire for services to sport and the voluntary sector from the Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace. Amaechi retired from the NBA in 2004 and acknowledged in 2007 that he was gay.

A leading British gay rights campaigner has backed a Christian housing worker demoted for posting comments on Facebook about gay marriage. Adrian Smith, 54, from Bolton, is taking legal action against Trafford Housing Trust (THT) after being removed from his managerial post. The BBC reports that political campaigner Peter Tatchell described THT's response as "excessive and disproportionate.” The Trust declined to comment but said it would defend its decision. Disciplinary action was launched against Mr Smith when he commented "an equality too far" next to a BBC News Online story with the headline, "Gay church 'marriage' set to get the go-ahead.” He added, "If the state wants to offer civil marriages to the same sex then that is up to the state; but the state shouldn't impose its rules on places of faith and conscience." Human rights organisation the Peter Tatchell Foundation issued a statement saying it was "not a particularly homophobic viewpoint.” Tatchell, a prominent campaigner on gay and lesbian issues, said, "Adrian Smith's opposition to churches being compelled to hold gay marriages is shared by much of the population, including many equality and human rights organisations. In a democratic society, he has a right to express his point of view, even if it is misguided and wrong. Freedom of speech should only be limited or penalised in extreme circumstances, such as when a person incites violence against others. Mr Smith's words did not cross this threshold." Instead of taking disciplinary action, the Trust should have simply warned Smith about making remarks in forums where he is identified as their employee, added Tatchell. "I urge Trafford Housing Trust to revoke his demotion and salary cut," he said. The Trust previously said its Code of Conduct was updated in 2010 to establish the proper use of social networking sites such as Facebook. Under the code, staff are expected to ensure their opinions cannot be mistaken as being the opinions of the Trust. Smith is being supported in his legal action by The Christian Institute, a national charity that defends the religious liberty of Christians. He is claiming interference with his rights to free speech and religious liberty, and breach of contract.

Amy Winehouse died from alcohol poisoning after a drinking binge following a period of abstinence, an inquest has heard. The Guardian reports that the 27-year-old Grammy award-winner was more than five times over the legal drink-drive limit when she was found dead at her home in Camden, north London, on July 23. She had 416mg of alcohol per decilitre in her blood, enough to make her comatose and depress her respiratory system. Police recovered three vodka bottles – two large and one small – from her room. Recording a verdict of misadventure, the St Pancras coroner, Suzanne Greenway, said: "The unintended consequences of such potentially fatal levels was her sudden death." Winehouse's parents, Mitch and Janis, heard her GP, Dr Christina Romete, describe the singer as intelligent and determined, and said she had been warned of the dangers of alcohol abuse. Her parents said it was a "source of great pain" that she had lost her battle with alcohol.